Some kinds of bears hibernate. For bears, that means they rest all winter.
Most of the winter, they are in a deep sleep. Their body slows down. They do not need to eat, and they hardly ever poop!
Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images (Den); All Canada Photos/Alamy Stock Photo (Baby Bears); Tsalani Lassiter (Rae Wynn-Grant); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)
Shh! Don’t Wake the Bears
Get the facts about sleepy bears. Then read about a scientist who gets to snuggle with cubs.
From the February 2026 Issue
Learning Objective: Students will build background knowledge about hibernation to prepare for the Big Read-Aloud.
Lexiles: 440L
Featured Skill: Key Details
Standards
1. Do bears really sleep all winter?
2. Where do they rest?
They rest all winter in a den. A bear will find a cozy hole or a cave. Or it will dig a den in the ground.
3. What about baby bears?
Mama bears have cubs in their winter dens.
The den is a safe place for cubs to grow. They drink milk from their mom’s body. They even purr as they drink. Aww!
4. Can the mama bear wake up in winter?
Yes! She can wake up for a bit and then go back to sleep. If something bothers her, she can wake up and attack!
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